Tipping in restaurants.

[Des Pondent]

I have been in restaurants lately both home and abroad.
When service and food has been good I have no problem tipping.
Frequently though, the server takes the order, brings the food and drink, looks after us well and finishes off with the bill, but the manager / supervisor comes for payment.
I suspect my tip whether added as a service charge or optional does not go to the server or between all staff.
Tonight I left no tip as when I asked the question, I was told staff are paid separately (Whatever that means)
Any thoughts ?
What do you do ?

 

[Persia]

I ask the waiter ot waitress (discreetly) if they get the tips....very rare that they tell me they don't.
Regardless I fold up the money into a square and just pass it discreetly to them.

 

[Des Pondent]

I ask the waiter ot waitress (discreetly) if they get the tips....very rare that they tell me they don't.

I have done that too, but often I have noticed that the server can't take payment. The manager / supervisor / owner takes payment.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

Regardless I fold up the money into a square and just pass it discreetly to them.

I find it hard to do that with coins, though.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

Frequently though, the server takes the order, brings the food and drink, looks after us well and finishes off with the bill, but the manager / supervisor comes for payment.

I must eat in the wrong places. I have never noticed that. As far as I recall, the bill has always been brought by the server.

 

[Des Pondent]

I must eat in the wrong places.

Yeah.

 

[losttheplot]

Where I eat, I can pay at the till when I order. Recently in a restaurant in London, I asked the server if they got the tips. He thanked me for asking, said it was complicated and preferred not to answer and not to worry about leaving one. Kind of strange.
I always try to give it directly if I can.

 

[ClubMan]

Where I eat, I can pay at the till when I order.

McDonald's?

 

[losttheplot]

McDonald

On special occasions, but I can use the kiosk there (have seen self service checkouts in the US giving the option of tipping, no idea who gets that).
The restaurant in London was located in a hotel.
I find restaurants have different setups. Some bring the bill but take payment at the reception desk. Some seem to have a designated person to handle it. Most cases the person bringing the bill will take the payment.

 

[MrEarl]

I'm noticing more and more restaurants and coffee shops with card machines that almost compel you into tipping - and I really don't like them !

In fact, I think it may become a reason for avoid going to some places.